Discover how fighter jets influence modern conflicts, their key missions, and their role in the rise of military drones.

In contemporary conflicts, fighter jets play a central strategic role. Their ability to control airspace often determines the outcome of ground and naval operations. By ensuring air superiority, they not only protect ground forces, but also project power onto distant targets. Their speed, maneuverability, and precision weaponry give military commanders the flexibility to respond quickly in a variety of contexts, whether it be preventive strikes, reconnaissance missions, or close support for troops.

However, since the early 2000s, the rapid rise of combat drones (UCAVs – Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles) has called into question the future of piloted fighter jets. These unmanned aircraft, which are cheaper to produce and maintain and can operate without risk to a pilot, are playing an increasingly important role in military doctrine. This raises a key question: can traditional fighter jets remain relevant in an increasingly automated and connected battlefield? Understanding their current role is essential to assessing their evolution in future wars.

How do fighter jets influence the outcome of modern conflicts?

Air superiority is one of the determining factors in modern conflicts. The ability to neutralize enemy air forces and control airspace allows military commanders to conduct ground and naval operations with greater efficiency. For example, during the Gulf War in 1991, the US-led coalition systematically destroyed Iraq’s air force and air defense systems in the early hours of Operation Desert Storm. This air superiority prevented any Iraqi air counterattack and facilitated the rapid advance of ground forces into Kuwait. The absence of an air threat allows for uninterrupted logistical support and makes tactical maneuvers on the ground safer.

Beyond the battlefield, fighter jets play a strategic deterrent role. Their mere presence at a forward base or patrolling over a contested area can discourage an adversary from engaging in combat. This psychological role is reinforced by rapid deployment capabilities: within hours, a squadron can be deployed thousands of kilometers away to demonstrate a country’s political determination. The interception of hostile aircraft or the demonstration of force by armed patrols in sensitive areas illustrate this function. Air diplomacy, particularly visible in NATO operations around the Baltic states since 2014, relies on this ability to threaten without directly engaging in hostilities.

Finally, fighter jets provide critical support to ground forces. By carrying out precision strikes against enemy positions, armored vehicles, or artillery batteries, they quickly neutralize threats that would otherwise be difficult to reach. The use of GPS- or laser-guided bombs makes it possible to engage targets in urban areas with minimal risk to the civilian population, as demonstrated by French operations in Mali. Their rapid intervention directly alters the dynamics of ground combat by depriving the enemy of its offensive capabilities.

What are the main missions of fighter jets in today’s wars?

Today, fighter jets perform several complementary missions that are tailored to the operational needs of modern armies. Their primary function remains interception and air combat. The aircraft are equipped with long-range radars and infrared or active radar-guided air-to-air missiles (such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor), enabling them to detect, track, and neutralize enemy targets before they reach friendly lines. In air defense operations, such as monitoring the airspace of the Baltic states, NATO fighter jets regularly intercept Russian aircraft approaching the borders without a declared flight plan.

The second main mission is ground attack and the destruction of strategic targets. Modern fighter-bombers such as the F-35 or the Rafale are capable of delivering high-precision guided munitions to critical infrastructure: ammunition depots, command centers, radars, and communications facilities. The targeted destruction of these targets quickly disrupts enemy military capabilities, as demonstrated by the air campaigns in Kosovo in 1999 and Libya in 2011.

At the same time, fighter jets are used for advanced reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Equipped with specific pods such as the Reco NG pod for the Rafale or the EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System) for the F-35, they collect visual and infrared information on enemy positions without having to penetrate deep into hostile territory. This observation capability contributes directly to tactical and strategic intelligence.

Finally, fighter jets protect air convoys and sensitive installations. They escort refueling aircraft, AWACS, and strategic transport aircraft, and patrol around exposed forward bases. Their role is to ensure the survival of these essential resources, which are often vulnerable to air attacks or cruise missiles.

Why do fighter jets remain essential despite the evolution of military drones?

Despite the rapid advances in combat drones, piloted fighter jets remain essential in modern military operations. Their primary strength lies in their versatility and responsiveness. A fighter jet can switch from an air superiority mission to a ground support mission without the need for extensive reconfiguration. This ability to adapt immediately allows them to respond to unforeseen situations, which current drones, often designed for specific missions, struggle to do. In addition, the speed and maneuverability of piloted aircraft remain superior to those of drones, offering a decisive advantage in dynamic combat.

Another crucial factor is human decision-making in real time. An experienced pilot is capable of making complex decisions in a matter of seconds in a changing situation, taking into account multiple parameters that are not always detected by electronic sensors. In close-range air combat (dogfights) or dense urban environments, this human ability to anticipate remains unmatched by the algorithms embedded in drones.

Fighter jets also demonstrate greater resilience to electronic threats. While drones can be vulnerable to communication jamming or cyberattacks that disrupt their remote control, piloted aircraft have complete decision-making autonomy. Even in the event of network degradation, a pilot can continue the mission, adapt, or even return without external assistance.

Finally, the current trend is not to replace fighter jets with drones, but to combine them. Modern operations rely on complementarity: drones carry out reconnaissance missions or strike secondary targets, while fighter jets ensure air superiority and neutralize enemy defenses. The future of conflict therefore lies in close interaction between manned aircraft and autonomous or semi-autonomous drones.

Get in touch to live a unique fighter jet experience – we fly in France AND YOU CAN TAKE THE CONTROLS!!!